CANOE Live - September 3rd, 2010
Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a cream or beige-coloured fitted sheet and duvet that is missing from Sonia Varaschin’s house. During a Friday press conference, they also announced the suspect might be someone known to her and was probably familiar with Varaschin’s neighbourhood.
Although search efforts continue in the air and on the ground, police told her family to brace for the worst. Officers also said she was likely a victim of foul play. Varaschin, 42, was last seen Sunday. She was reported missing on Monday after she failed to appear for work. Blood was found on the front steps of her empty Orangeville home and on her abandoned Toyota Corolla just a short distance from her house.
OPP Constable Peter Leon updates us on the desperate search for Varaschin.
Anyone with information can call Orangeville Police Service at 519-941-2522 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Visit the Toronto Sun for the latest in the Orangeville case.
Tags: abandoned car, blood, blood-soaked bedding, bloodied bedding, Crime Stoppers, foul play, missing nurse, missing person, missing woman, Orangeville, Orangeville Police, Orangeville woman, Peter Leon, Sonia Varaschin, Varaschin
Categories: Crime | No comments
CANOE Live - September 3rd, 2010
Critical issues continue to take a back seat in Toronto’s mayoral race. Instead of scrutinizing George Smitherman’s flip-flop on his strategy to create jobs for youth, the spotlight is on the exchange that happened between Smitherman and a volunteer from Rossi’s campaign.
On Thursday, Smitherman promised to create jobs for youth by raising taxes on Toronto’s businesses. Following negative backlash, he immediately announced that his proposal will offer tax rebates to companies that hire youth.
Coverage on the mayoral campaign is buzzing with reports of Smitherman dropping the f-bomb after Rossi’s volunteer tried to hand him pamphlets supporting Rossi for mayor at Thursday’s debate. Smitherman’s campaign denies the alleged verbal abuse and Rossi insists that Smitherman owes the volunteer an apology.
Sun Media’s Joe Warmington and Rob Granatstein join us to critique this Smitherman-Rossi dance along with other top news stories from the week.
Visit the Toronto Sun for more on Smitherman’s not-so-polished plan and the clash with Rossi’s volunteer.
Tags: f-bomb, George Smitherman, rebates to hire youth, Rocco Rossi, Rossi, Rossi volunteer, Smitherman, Toronto election, Toronto mayoral debate, Toronto mayoral race
Categories: Municipal politics | No comments
CANOE Live - September 2nd, 2010
Chris Hadfield, 51, will be the first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station when he leaves for a six month mission in December 2012. He will be flying on a Russian Soyuz Rocket.
This is the third time the veteran astronaut blasts off since he was chosen as part of Canada’s astronaut corps in 1992. His first space flight was in 1995 as a mission specialist on STS-74. He returned to space in 2001 as a mission specialist on STS-100.
The married father of three is originally from Sarnia, Ontario. After 25 years of service, the former fighter jet pilot retired from the Canadian Military as a Colonel in 2003.
Marc Garneau, Canada’s first astronaut in space and incumbent MP for Westmount-Ville-Marrie, joins us as we look at what this proud moment means for Canada’s space program.
Visit the Toronto Sun for more on Hadfield.
Tags: Canadian astronaut, Canadian commander of international space station, Chris Hadfield, first Canadian commander of space station, Hadfield, International space station, Marc Garneau, Russian Soyuz Rocket, space mission, space station, veteran astronaut
Categories: History, Technology | No comments
CANOE Live - September 2nd, 2010
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be celebrating its 40th anniversary as Canada’s top aerobatic demonstration team. The festivities will be held at the CNE from Saturday to Monday. This year’s show is also a salute to Canada’s longest running air show – the Canadian International Air Show. Among the impressive aircraft to be on display are the CF-18s, the same type of planes that Canadian space station commander Chris Hadfield flew as a fighter jet pilot. The Canadian International Air Show also celebrates the centennial of women in aviation and the Canadian Navy’s centennial.
A Snowbird aircraft’s top speed is 412 knots or 750 km/h. During a performance, speeds range from 185 km/h to 590 km/h. The Snowbirds perform 50 different formations and maneuvers.
Captain Mark “Happy” LaVerdiere, lead solo with the Snowbirds, shares his inspirations and experiences as part of Canada’s elite air force.
Visit the Canadian International Air Show’s website for more details on the weekend’s show. You can view the Snowbird’s complete performance schedule here.
Read the Toronto Sun for more on their visit in Toronto.
Tags: air show, aircraft, aviation, Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Canadian International Air Show, Canadian national exhibition, Canadian Navy, Captain Mark LaVerdiere, CIAS, CNE, Mark “Happy” LaVerdiere, Snowbirds
Categories: History, Technology | No comments
CANOE Live - September 2nd, 2010
After constantly landing last place on the mayoral election polls, candidate Rocco Rossi catapulted to third place this week after promising a recall policy that allows voters to fire their mayor and councillors between elections.
It seems that after an overload of controversy from Councillor Rob Ford, Rossi is starting to strike a chord with voters. In the latest survey conducted by Forum Research, almost three quarters of voters said they were in favour of having the power to remove their politicians between elections. According to the survey, Rob Ford is leading with 34 per cent, followed by George Smitherman with 22 per cent, Rocco Rossi with 15 per cent, Sarah Thomson with 14 per cent and Joe Pantalone with 11 per cent.
We break down the numbers with Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research.
Read the Toronto Sun for more on the latest poll.
Tags: Councillor, councillors, Forum Research, George Smitherman, Joe Pantalone, Lorne Bozinoff, mayoral election, polls, Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi, Toronto election
Categories: Municipal politics | No comments
CANOE Live - September 1st, 2010
Ontario Provincial Police confirmed Wednesday they suspect foul play in the disappearance of 42-year-old nurse Sonia Varaschin. Her family and friends last heard from her on Sunday.
Police found blood on the front steps of her empty Spring St. home and on her Toyota Corolla abandoned a short distance away. She is described as 5’1” and weighing about 125 pounds, brown hair with highlights.
Anyone with information can call Orangeville Police Service at 519-941-2522 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Sun Media’s Ian Robertson joined Canoe Live to give us the latest developments on the case.
Visit the Toronto Sun for more on the search for Varaschin.
Tags: abandoned car, Crime Stoppers, Ian Robertson, missing nurse, missing person, Oakville, Ontario Provincial Police, OPP, OPP search, Orangeville Police, Orangeville Police Service, police, search, Sonia Varaschin, Sprint St.
Categories: Crime | No comments
CANOE Live - September 1st, 2010
Wait times are ballooning for obese patients wanting Bariatric surgery since the province banned out of country procedures. Patients previously in line for six months now wait up to 18 months for treatment at homegrown facilities. But the government insists the in-province policy saves about $10,000 for every case performed in Ontario instead of the U.S.
Sun Media’s Christina Blizzard breaks down Ontario’s case against out-of-country Bariatric surgeries. She also weighs in on Ontario’s auto insurance reforms to prevent fradulent claims.
Read the Toronto Sun for more on Ontario’s policy on bariatric surgery and the new auto insurance reforms.
Tags: bariatric surgeries, bariatric surgery, Christina Blizzard, fat, obese patients, Ontario, surgical treatment, U.S. surgery option
Categories: Health | No comments
CANOE Live - August 31st, 2010
Ontario drivers will face dramatic changes in their insurance coverage starting Sept. 1. While the rates won’t increase, the services included in the insurance coverage will decrease. A recent survey also shows that up to 70 per cent of Ontario drivers are unaware of the looming changes to auto insurance.
While the province insists the reform is to provide consumers with more options, critics maintain it is a cash grab disguised as garbled legislation. The changes include a 50 per cent cut to medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits. Those injured from car crashes before Sept. 1 were eligible to receive up to $100,000 in benefits including physiotherapy – that will be cut in half to $50,000.
Charles Gluckstein, personal injury lawyer from Gluckstein & Associates, joins us to clarify the cloudy reforms.
Visit the Toronto Sun for more on the auto reforms.
Tags: auto insurance, car, Ontario, ontario drivers, September 1
Categories: Toronto news | No comments
